Cyclocross or Road Bike?

borse2008

So im looking to purchase a new road bike, mainly for riding on events, and sportives, nothing more than that.

Already got a MTB but not looking to replace a mountain bike. I want a bike i can use doing 100m and 100km comfortably with.

Been highly recommended going for a Cyclocross by On One

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOODDRIV/o ... cross-bike

Or a choice of a Planet X Pro Carbon

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPULT ... -road-bike

Either are very similar which i understand. Im going to test ride them this weekend to see how i feel on them.


Im not planning on using this bike on any offroading or doing trail riding as i have a mtb for that, its for doing commuting on road, and more and more events.

I weigh about 105kg 6ft, obviously getting this i will lose weight through ownership. Is my weight a worry on these types of frames?

pete8uk

I used to have a carbon Planet X RT-57, not sure how similar that is to the Pro Carbon. I'd recommend it as a good bike for the price for training and events of the length you're considering. Possibly not for daily commuting, depending on your commute. It needed a fair bit of maintenance to keep it going.....nothing major, just constant tinkering and replacement parts needed over the two years I owned it.

I've just recently bought a Boardman CX Team to commute on (replacing my mountain bike). With slicks on, it rolls very well, and the disk brakes and mudguard clearance have already come in handy with the recent weather! Not sure I'd want to drag it up repeated big hills on a sportive though.

So basically, I've not really helped with your dilemma...Main advice: test ride them, and buy the one you like best :-)

mangetout_rodney

One of each- start with the cyclocross as it is coming into winter.
Save up for the road bike for next summer.

I know this isn't currently your plan but I'm betting it will be once you get going on it.

diamonddog

Look at the Planet X RT58, more relaxed geo than the Pro Carbon and a 'comfier' option for the longer distances IMO.

ugo.santalucia

The old crop of CX bikes with cantis were really only for CX and unable to stop safely someone descending fast on tarmac... the new ones with discs are excellent road bikes, very versatile. On the contrary, the new crop of road bikes are irritating, with increasingly unreliable solutions and components... I'd have no hesitation and get a CX bike, possibly one without the press fit bottom bracket

borse2008

Thanks guys for all your help on this, i took someone elses advice basically looking at the cyclocross where i can use it multi purpose but would like to get more involved with road biking. Looking at the cx its the best of both world i suppose.

Cant decide, but i cant imagine the difference until i ride them.

ai_1

Cyclocross bikes are a sensible idea for commuting especially if they will accomodate mudguards.
They have more clearance than roadbikes so you can fit larger volume tyres if you wish but they can also do a very good job in the usual road bike role as a fast bike for sportives etc. They also give you the option of happily riding canal paths or other light off-road routes should you feel the need. I used my Specialised Tricross on the road for 3 years including events up to 200km Sportives. I'm now pressing it into service as a TT test platform - many will be horrified! However, although cyclocross bikes are great all rounders, if you know you will only use the bike on the road and don't think you'll want tyres greater than 25mm (maybe 28mm), a dedicated road bike may be a little better for sportives etc if you want to do them fast.
For me the Tricross, fitted with slicks was a great bike but I did find I needed to replace the stem with a heavily angled one to get the lower position I wanted as I got to be a better (and more flexible) rider. Some cycloscross bikes will have a lower position similar to a roadbike. Others will be more upright like the Tricross. A more upright position is not a bad thing for commuting as it gives you better vision and visibility in traffic, especially at junctions but it may not be what you want for faster road riding. A cyclocross bike will not be a bad decision. Whether or not it's the best decision is harder to know and really comes down to how, exactly, you'll use it.

borse2008

I think if im keeping my mtb than having a cyclocross is not needed. Lets be honest in this country commuting to work i wont be doing it every single day just as the weather is dry ill do it, would think though i have better flexible options in terms of wheels and tires with a cyclocross which are slightly wider and can run slicks if needed.

mangetout_rodney

What about a disc brake road bike then?
You could put on Conti all season tyres for the winter, switch back to faster tyres in the summer?

borse2008

If im doing that, i may as well go with the cyclocross. ill try both at the weekend.

ai_1

borse2008 wrote:

I think if im keeping my mtb than having a cyclocross is not needed. Lets be honest in this country commuting to work i wont be doing it every single day just as the weather is dry ill do it, would think though i have better flexible options in terms of wheels and tires with a cyclocross which are slightly wider and can run slicks if needed.

Agreed.
If you'll be sticking to the roads I'd fit some slicks straight away. You could even ask the shop to switch them for you before you buy it. I'd reckon 25 or 28mm tyres would be perfect for general riding although something a little bigger like a 32mm will add comfort if you commute on bad urban roads. Bigger tyres let you use lower pressures and thus makes for a more comfortable ride. Also the heavier you are the more sense a bigger tyre makes as you'll need a little more pressure for a given tyre size to avoid pinch punctures. You could use 23mm tyres but I would stick to 25mm or bigger (and I do).
For commuting you'll probably want tyres with a little durability so Michelin Pro4 Endurance, Continental GP 4 Seasons or Schwalbe Durano Plus would all be good choices. Continental Gatorskins are a cheaper and robust option but not as grippy or comfortable as many of the alternatives.

Sevendeadly wrote:

What about a disc brake road bike then?
You could put on Conti all season tyres for the winter, switch back to faster tyres in the summer?

I think the type of bike is more important than the brakes. If disk brakes are important to you they're more easily available on cyclocros bikes anyway.

hypster

The new Planet X London Road has just arrived for £1K:

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXLDNRIV ... -road-bike

dyrlac

I have both a CX bike (with canits) and a road bike. CX was first, bought on the theory that I didn't know what I wanted to do with it. As it turned out, I'm always on the tarmac, which makes the compromises of CX a bit of a hassle: tyres, weight, BB height, cantilever brakes, and most of all, a totally naff 46/36 - 12-26 drivetrain (cue the spinnistas, this is admittedly only in my opinion for fairly flat London riding ). I happily ride my CX in the wet (I keep full SKS guards on it), and remember it fondly for introducing me to road cycling, but would have been better served getting something that was a more conventional winter trainer. (In any event, N+1 is inevitable, so make sure you get something that can be demoted to winter/wet duties, which means guard mounts/clearance are critical).

borse2008

Thanks everyone, i think id also like to get properly fitted to my bike too.

I know they do professional Retul fitting which i think it would be good with.

I think ill have a go on both bikes and see how they feel. Realistically ill be riding more on road than off road. When its really wet i wouldnt ride at all. With a road bike i can still get all weather tires anyway cant i ?

Are carbon bikes do they carry a body weight limit. I read some places it is and some places it isnt?

luv2ride

hypster wrote:

The new Planet X London Road has just arrived for £1K:

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXLDNRIV ... -road-bike

I've just seen this. Looks amazing value (and, er, looks amazing 8)), as a recent owner of a Crosslight Pro 6 disc I think this looks like a serious competitor.

Just came back from a ride on the Crosslight though (mix of road, off road and gravel tracks) and it was a blast. I would recommend going for a 'crosser, and would definitely give the London Road some serious consideration at that price. Seems to be a 'crosser by any other name...

giant_man

Go for a Kinesis crosser imo, much better than that PX effort ..

cougie

If I had to choose one bike - then it would be a cross bike.

But as you have no intention of using it off road - just get a road bike. A wee bit lighter. The frame would cope with your weight easily - you might want to look at using 25mm tyres and stronger wheels though.

borse2008

So more votes going towards, the cyclocross but realistically im going for a bike for speed and durability, what are the main differences with a road bike with road tyres on and then a cyclocross with the identical tyres, on these two bikes mentioned above much of a muchness?

More stability with the cx because of wider tyres?

Frame size and weight seem very similar.

sopworth

Have you seen the Whyte Suffolk? Sounds exactly what you are after. The Planet X looks good but the brakes are not great. I have them on my Felt F5X and not impressed.
As previously mentioned, sizing is so important here.
I use my CX bike for commuting, winter training and honking weather club runs. I'm certainly nowhere near as fast as on my R3 but still can hold my own on it. Getting on my R3 after months on the CX and I fee like Contador!

nirurin

I'd be curious in the outcome of this myself. I'm currently in a similar situation of looking for a comfortable bike for mostly road use, all year round.
Myself I'm looking at the broadman hybrid comp or the broadman cx comp, as the "pure" road bikes strike me as not being suitable as an only bike.

Maybe if I had the money and space for more bikes I would get a pure road and a pure mountain! But as it stands, Im leaning more towards a hybrid or a CX. But reading the comments on here is helpful to see what people actually find useful.

Dippydog2

http://road.cc/content/news/126206-spec ... o-anywhere’-bike-launching-soon